Those electors registered for postal votes for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election have started to receive their voting packs and are being encouraged to return them as soon as possible.
Postal vote packs will continue to be delivered to electors up until a week before polling day on 6 May.
Complete all paperwork
If you have a postal vote, make sure that you not only complete the ballot papers but carefully complete the accompanying declaration to ensure your votes can be accepted.
Returning Officer for the two Scottish Borders constituencies, Netta Meadows
“It is vital that if you have a postal vote you complete all the paperwork carefully and return it as soon as you’ve done so. This enables all the checks to be carried out in advance, which speeds up the whole vote counting process after polling day.
“If you forget to return your postal vote, you can hand it in on polling day at any polling station in the constituency. Anyone registered for a postal vote is not able to vote in person at a polling station however.”
Returning by post
If you find yourself running late with returning your postal vote application, use a Royal Mail priority post box wherever possible. These boxes have late collection times, with many also having additional early collections too.
What happens to my postal vote?
A short video from the Electoral Commission shows what happens when you return your postal vote.
Proxy votes
The deadline has passed for applying for a postal vote, but you can appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf until 5pm on Tuesday 27 April.
Application forms for proxy votes are available online or by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer on 01835 825100.